Reading for January 1st

Read James 2.1-13. In verses 1-7: Rich and poor again. Devloping 1.9-11, James contrasts the group's reception of poor and rich. In verses 1-4: Favoritism to the wealthy cancels faith in the risen Lord, because it ignores the fact that Jesus, humbled and brought low, was exalted by God. In verse 5; God obvisously does not evaluate as we do for God chooses the poor to be rich (1 Cor 1.26-30). In verses 6-7: In James' world of opposites, the rich are the oppressors and the poor are their victims; by siding with the rich, they dishonor members of the group and ths blaspheme God's holy name. In verses 8-13: Wholeness as purity. In verses 8-9: James presents two laws: the general law of love (Mk 12.28-33) and some specific commandments. Love means impartiality (2.1-8; Rom 10.12-13; Acts 10.34) and mercy. In verses 10-11: Twice he emphasizes the seriousness of failing to keep even one commandment: perfection means being accountable for all. he interprets this in terms of jewish purity: Failure is pollution, corrupting what is good. In verses 12-13: Fearing lawlessness, he emphasizes God's law ofliberty. Comments or Questions..